HETAS Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Information for Installers

© HETAS MCS Information to Installers Rev 1.0 March 2010

Information for Installer Companies

To become MCS certified an installer company will need to demonstrate to the accredited certification body, HETAS, that your business and working practices meet the requirements of the MCS standards below. The scope of these MCS Schemes covers the supply, design, installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of the microgeneration technologies.

Scheme documents and requirements

These standards set out the requirements for the installer business for each technology.

The first two standards are common to all of the technologies, the first sets out the requirements of a documented quality management system that will need to be in place within your organisation, which documents how your business operates and manages the stages from an enquiry received through to the commissioning of the appliance. The second standard provides information and links to the Building Regulations and European Directives that may be applicable to the Microgeneration technologies. These standards are:

MCS 001 - Installer Certification Scheme Requirements MCS 002 - Information on Building Regulations and Directives

Each technology then has its own specific standard relevant to the requirements of the system. These standards typically set out the technical requirements and competence needed to install the appliance to the required standard. The two technologies that HETAS can provide certification for are:

Solar Thermal Standard - MIS 3001 Biomass Standard - MIS 3004

These standards are freely downloadable via the MCS website.

Consumer protection

All applicants wishing to become an MCS certified installer will have to demonstrate that they have signed up to a Code of Practice that meets the guidelines set by the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) Consumer Code Approval Scheme.

The purpose of this is to ensure that contractors offer consumers protection, including complaints handling and a comprehensive performance prediction for products to prevent mis-selling.

The REAL Assurance Scheme (Renewable Energy Assurance Limited) is the code that DECC has accepted for this Scheme.

Further details can be found at http://www.realassurance.org.uk/.

Assessment process

Our application form will act as a checklist to ensure your procedures and systems are in place and will meet the requirements of the above standards.

Once we are satisfied that you have a quality system in place and there is a MCS installation available to inspect, an assessment will take place at your office(s) and an inspection of at least one installation will be carried out to ensure that policies and procedures meet the requirements of the Scheme and that the work that has been undertaken is consistent with the system design.

Once approved you will receive ongoing annual assessment and review to confirm the above standards are being maintained.

For more information and to receive an application pack email mcs@hetas.co.uk or contact HETAS on 0845 634 5626